Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Samford University #1198 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,448 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Samford University in the 34.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Samford University #561 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Samford University #1198 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Birmingham, Alabama, Samford University enrolls roughly 4,206 undergraduates. Retention is 92.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 77.0%, reflecting solid persistence and completion outcomes. Where Samford University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Samford University #561 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $66,567. They earn about $5,448 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Samford University in the 34.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strength reflects the institution's concentration in Health fields, where employer demand and career progression drive solid long-term financial outcomes. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Samford University sits in the 9.9 percentile for access and the 16.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 11.1% Pell-eligible students and 13.8% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a selective admissions posture that limits broad-access enrollment. Mobility outcomes sit in the 33.0 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's access constraints shape its overall composite position relative to peers that serve larger shares of low-income and first-generation students.
Samford University's published cost of attendance is $57,456. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,716, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $24,812, middle-income families pay about $31,527, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $34,206, and higher-income families pay roughly $36,235. Azimuth ranks Samford University #1190 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Samford University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The institution's aid structure is need-based, with merit scholarships available for qualifying students. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The university reports that financial aid packages are designed to meet demonstrated financial need for admitted students, though the depth of aid varies by income level and individual circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $66,567, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Samford University is a strong fit for students interested in health fields who want a private university experience in Birmingham, AL. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $66,567, placing Samford University in the 70.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $5,448 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Samford University in the 34.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 11.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 13.8% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates of 64.4% for Pell recipients. Published cost of attendance is $36,235, and median federal debt at graduation is $19,500. Fit depends on program alignment — health fields dominate the program mix — and the 82.4% admit rate. Students whose interests align with health fields and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes relative to AL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,168.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Samford University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
101 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
50 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
25 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
35 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
122 graduates
Samford University's program mix is anchored in health professions and professional fields, reflecting the university's identity as a comprehensive private institution in the Southeast. Nursing is the largest program with 122 graduates, followed by Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, and Administration, Digital Marketing, Finance, and Psychology, General.
Across 33 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength concentrated in health and applied-professional fields. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's health-professions focus.
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, and Administration leads with median earnings of $119,888 four years after enrollment, followed by Finance at $93,444, Business Administration at $76,584, Nursing at $72,517, and Digital Marketing at $70,839. These programs span clinical and applied-health pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes tied to professional licensure and regional demand.
Samford University's program distribution—with Business representing 23%, Arts at 6%, and Education at 3%—positions the university as a health-and-professional-services-oriented institution. This concentration aligns with the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/), where health professions continue to show strong workforce demand and wage stability.
Graduates from these fields typically move into stable, in-demand roles in healthcare delivery, clinical practice, and related professional sectors across the Southeast and beyond.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Samford University's published cost of attendance is $57,456. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,716, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $24,812, middle-income families pay about $31,527, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $34,206, and higher-income families pay roughly $36,235.
Azimuth ranks Samford University #1190 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Samford University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The institution's aid structure is need-based, with merit scholarships available for qualifying students.
Families apply for aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The university reports that financial aid packages are designed to meet demonstrated financial need for admitted students, though the depth of aid varies by income level and individual circumstances.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $66,567, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Samford University earn median 4-year earnings of $66,567, placing Samford University in the 70.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,448 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Samford University in the 34.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Samford University #561 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings trajectory reflects Samford's concentrated strength in health-related fields, where graduates move into stable, well-compensated careers in nursing, allied health, and clinical practice.
The institution's program portfolio is anchored in health professions. Nursing is the largest program with 122 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $72,517, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Administration, and Administration program graduates 101 students earning $119,888 and operates at 1.0x benchmark, while Digital Marketing with 57 graduates earns $70,839 at 1.0x benchmark. Finance and Psychology, General round out the top five, both delivering solid early-career earnings aligned with their respective field benchmarks.
This concentration in Health — representing the majority of Samford's degree output — explains the institution's consistent earnings performance and the predictability of outcomes for students pursuing careers in healthcare and related professions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whitman College Similar quality tier (#32746 ranked) | WA | 38% | $67,589 | #32746 | Compare |
Union University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32751 ranked) | TN | 60% | $53,990 | #32751 | Compare |
Clark Atlanta University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32758 ranked) | GA | 64% | $42,712 | #32758 | Compare |
Arcadia University Similar quality tier (#32739 ranked) | PA | 80% | $58,336 | #32739 | Compare |
University Of Lynchburg Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32759 ranked) | VA | 43% | $56,380 | #32759 | Compare |
